College football's top stories of 2013

Redshirt freshman led Florida State to an ACC title and berth in the BCS National Championship Game, won the Heisman and became embroiled in arguably the biggest controversy of the 2013 college football season.(Photo: Jeremy Brevard, USA TODAY Sports)

To recap the 2013 regular season, USA TODAY Sports is counting down some of the year's memorable moments, significant stories, noteworthy trends, biggest surprises and biggest disappointments. Today, we look at the regular season's top five storylines.

1. Jameis Winston

For four weeks in November and December, the allegations of sexual assault against Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston stood as the largest and most provocative story of the 2013 season. While Winston was never charged – state attorneys dropped the case prior to the Heisman Trophy ceremony – the allegations hung like a cloud over the redshirt freshman's otherwise pitch-perfect All-American season.

Not that the allegations marred his Heisman credentials: Winston won the trophy in a landslide, finishing with the seventh-largest margin of victory in Heisman voting history.

So long, Bowl Championship Series. (But thanks for getting the matchups right as you left the building in 2013.) That the BCS would be replaced by a four-team playoff was made official in April, and given a name – the College Football Playoff – perfect in its simplicity.

In October, the College Football Playoff gave some additional information about its selection process: like the men's and women's basketball tournaments, the teams in the four-team playoff and secondary bowls would be chosen by a 13-person committee led by Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long, the committee chair.

Perhaps the most dramatic entry on the committee was former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who drew criticism from former Auburn coach Pat Dye: "All she knows about football is what somebody told her," Dye said. "To understand football, you've got to play with your hand in the dirt."

3. Manziel trouble

Johnny Manziel's quest for a second consecutive Heisman Trophy was nearly derailed days before the 2013 season began. In August, an autograph broker told ESPN he had paid Manziel for signing hundreds of pieces of memorabilia – a clear violation of NCAA bylaws regarding amateur eligibility. The report set off an NCAA investigation; it also served as the last rocky moment in the rockiest offseason ever experienced by a reigning Heisman winner. If found to have accepted payment for his autograph, Manziel would have likely missed most, if not all, of his sophomore season.

The result: Manziel was suspended by the NCAA for the first half of the season opener against Rice, an easy win for the Aggies, and returned in more than enough time to put together another banner season in A&M's offense.

Johnny Manziel had a difficult offseason, but he rebounded and matured to earn a second consecutive trip to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony.(Photo: Peter G. Aiken, USA TODAY Sports)

4. Grambling sits one out

A number of factors stood behind the decision of Grambling's football team – the players, not the coaching staff – to boycott two days of practice and a game against Jackson State. There were the substandard facilities, like a weight room with inadequate equipment, holes on the floor and "mildew and mold" along the walls and ceiling.

There were the exhausting travel plans: Grambling would bus to and from games, leaving the team "drained" before even playing a down. The team was also upset that the university had fired coach Doug Williams.

The result was a week-long spotlight on a once-proud football program soured by budget cuts and an overall sense of malaise.

5. Army and Navy left scrambling

This Federal shutdown hit close to home. When the government entered into a shutdown for the first half of October, the Defense Department temporarily suspended athletic completion at Army, Navy and Air Force. Because both Army and Navy were set to play away games on Oct. 5 – Army at Boston College, Navy at Air Force – both service academies were in a position where it could potentially be forced to skip a regular-season game.

By Oct. 3, however, the Defense Department gave both teams the go-ahead to compete in Saturday's games – allowing college football to continue, even if the government remained closed for business.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL BOWL HIGHLIGHTS

Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston kisses the trophy after defeating the Auburn Tigers 34-31 in the BCS National Championship Game at the Rose Bowl. (Photo: Matthew Emmons, USA TODAY Sports)

RB: Jeremy Hill, LSU. Beating Iowa in the Outback Bowl took everything Hill had. Good thing he was ready. Hill finished with 216 yards, the most Iowa had allowed against a running back since 2000. (Photo: Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports)

QB: Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M. In what was likely the final game of his superb college career, Manziel completed 30 of 38 pass attempts for 382 yards and four touchdowns and added 73 yards and a score on the ground in a Chick-fil-A Bowl victory. (Photo: Dale Zanine, USA TODAY Sports)

Texas A&M defensive back Toney Hurd Jr. (4) scampers into the end zone to complete a 55-yard interception return for a TD late in the fourth quarter. Hurd's score with 3:33 left put the Aggies on top for good. (Photo: Dale Zanine, USA TODAY Sports)

Arizona quarterback B.J. Denker (7) eludes a pair of Boston College defenders during the Advocare V100 Bowl in Shreveport, La. Denker threw for two TDs and ran for another in the Wildcats' 42-19 win. (Photo: Crystal LoGiudice, USA TODAY Sports)

Texas Tech Red Raiders running back DeAndre Washington (21) is stopped short of the goal line against the Arizona State Sun Devils during the first half in the Holiday Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium. (Photo: Christopher Hanewinckel, USA TODAY Sports)

Kansas State Wildcats running back John Hubert runs the ball in the first half against the Michigan Wolverines during the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl at Sun Devil Stadium. (Photo: Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports)

Washington running back Bishop Sankey trots into the end zone for one of his two 11-yard TD runs. Sankey rushed for 95 yards and was named outstanding offensive player. (Photo: Ed Szczepanski, USA TODAY Sports)

Syracuse quarterback Terrel Hunt celebrates his go-ahead TD run with 1:14 left against Minnesota during the Texas Bowl in Houston. hunt's second score of the game gave the Orange a 21-17 come-from-behind win. (Photo: Troy Taormina, USA TODAY Sports)

Marshal running back Essray Taliaferro celebrates his fourth-quarter TD run against Maryland in the Military Bowl in Annapolis, Md. Taliaferro's score put the Thudnering Herd ahead for good in a 31-20 victory. (Photo: Mitch Stringer, USA TODAY Sports)

Oregon State Beavers wide receiver Brandin Cooks (7) celebrates with teammates after a touchdown against the Boise State Broncos in the 1st quarter of the 2013 Hawaii Bowl at Aloha Stadium. (Photo: Marco Garcia, USA TODAY Sports)

East Carolina Pirates running back Vintavious Cooper (21) runs the ball in for a touchdown against the Ohio Bobcats during the second half at the 2013 Beef O Bradys Bowl at Tropicana Field. East Carolina won 37-20. (Photo: Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports)

Colorado State quarterback Garrett Grayson celebrates as running back Donnell Alexander scores a two point conversion against Washington State during the Gildan New Mexico Bowl. (Photo: Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports)